Rail transport in Italy
Encyclopedia
The Italian railway system is one of the most important infrastructure in the country
, with a total length of 24227 km (15,054 mi). The network is recently growing with the construction of the new high speed rail network
.
Italy is a member of the International Union of Railways
(UIC). The UIC Country Code
for Italy is 83.
Most of the Italian network is electrified (11921 km (7,407.4 mi)). Electric system is 3kV DC
on conventional lines and 25kV AC on high-speed lines.
line, built in 1839 to connect the royal palace of Naples
to the seaside. After the creation of the Kingdom of Italy
in 1861, a project was started to build a network from the Alps
to Sicily
, in order to connect the country.
The first high speed train was the Italian ETR 200
which in July 1939 went from Milan
to Florence
at 165 km/h (102.5 mph), with a top speed of 203 km/h (126.1 mph). With this service, the railway was able to compete with the upcoming airplanes. The Second World War
stopped these services.
After the Second World War, Italy started to repair the damaged railways, and built nearly 20000 km (12,427.5 mi) of new tracks.
Nowadays the rail tracks
and infrastructure are managed by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
(RFI), while the train and the passenger section is managed mostly by Trenitalia
. Both are Ferrovie dello Stato
(FS) subsidiaries, once the only train operator in Italy.
High speed trains were developed during the 1960s
. E444
locomotives were the first standard locomotives capable of top speed of 200 km/h (124.3 mph), while an ALe 601 electrical multiple unit (EMU) reached a speed of 240 km/h (149.1 mph) during a test. Other EMUs, such as the ETR 220, ETR 250 and ETR 300
, were also updated for speeds up to 200 km/h (124.3 mph). The braking systems of cars were updated to match the increased travelling speeds.
On 25 June 1970, work was started on the Rome–Florence Direttissima, the first high-speed line in Italy. It included the 5.375 km (3.3 mi) long bridge on the Paglia
river, then the longest in Europe. Works were completed in the early 1990s
.
In 1975, a program for a widespread updating of the rolling stock was launched. However, as it was decided to put more emphasis on local traffic, this caused a shifting of resources from the ongoing high speed projects, with their subsequent slowing or, in some cases, total abandonment. Therefore, 160 E656
electric and 35 D345
locomotives for short-medium range traffic were acquired, together with 80 EMUs of the ALe 801 and ALe 940 classes, 120 ALn 660 DMU
s. Some 1,000 much-needed passenger and 7,000 freight cars were also ordered.
In the 1990s, work started on the Treno Alta Velocità
(TAV) project, which involves building a new high speed network on the routes Milan
– (Bologna–Florence–Rome–Naples) – Salerno
, Turin
– (Milan–Verona–Venice) – Trieste
and Milan–Genoa
. Some lines of the routes have already been opened while international links with France
, Switzerland
, Austria
and Slovenia
are underway.
Most of the Rome–Naples line opened in December 2005, the Turin–Milan line partially opened in February 2006 and the Milan–Bologna line
opened in December 2008. The remaining sections of the Rome–Naples and the Turin–Milan lines and the Bologna–Florence line were completed in December 2009. All these lines are designed for speeds up to 300 km/h (186.4 mph).
Other proposed high speed lines are the Salerno
-Reggio Calabria
, then connected to Sicily
using the future Strait of Messina Bridge
, and the Naples
-Bari
.
— voltage change 3 kV DC/15 kV AC France
— voltage change 3 kV DC/25 kV AC or 1,5 kV DC Slovenia — same voltage Switzerland
— voltage change 3 kV DC/15 kV AC (plus two narrow gauge lines, same voltage) Vatican — not electrified San Marino — closed, narrow gauge
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, with a total length of 24227 km (15,054 mi). The network is recently growing with the construction of the new high speed rail network
High-speed rail in Italy
High-speed rail in Italy currently consists of two high-speed lines connecting all the major cities in Italy. The first line connects Milan to Naples passing through Bologna, Florence and Rome. The second route runs from Turin to Venice via Milan, and is still under construction in some parts...
.
Italy is a member of the International Union of Railways
International Union of Railways
The UIC , or International Union of Railways, is an international rail transport industry body.- Brief history :The railways of Europe originated as separate concerns. There were many border changes after World War I and the Treaty of Versailles. Colonial railways were the responsibility of the...
(UIC). The UIC Country Code
UIC Country Code
The UIC Country Code is a two digit number used to identify member countries of the International Union of Railways . The UIC has issued numbering systems for rolling stock and train stations that both contain the UIC Country Code. The values are defined in UIC leaflet 920-14.-Table of Codes:-...
for Italy is 83.
The network
The total length of active lines is 16723 km (10,391.2 mi), of which 7505 km (4,663.4 mi) are double tracks. RFI divides lines into 3 categories:- fundamental lines (fondamentali), which have high traffic and good infrastructure quality, comprise all the main lines between major cities throughout the country. Fundamental lines are 6131 km (3,809.6 mi) long;
- complementary lines (complementari), which have less traffic and are responsible for connecting medium or small regional centers. Most of these lines are single track and some are not electrified;
- node lines (di nodo), which link complementary and fundamental lines near metropolitan areas for a total 936 km (581.6 mi).
Most of the Italian network is electrified (11921 km (7,407.4 mi)). Electric system is 3kV DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
on conventional lines and 25kV AC on high-speed lines.
History
The first railway in Italy was the Napoli-PorticiNapoli-Portici
The Napoli-Portici was the first Italian railway line; it was built by the Bayard Company and opened in 1839. It now forms part of the Naples–Salerno line.-Geography:The initial line was a double track of...
line, built in 1839 to connect the royal palace of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
to the seaside. After the creation of the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
in 1861, a project was started to build a network from the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
to Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, in order to connect the country.
The first high speed train was the Italian ETR 200
ETR 200
The ETR 200 is an Italian electric multiple unit introduced in 1936.-Development:In the 1930s the Italian state railways, Ferrovie dello Stato, electrified the main line Milan-Bologna-Florence-Rome-Naples and needed a fast train to use on it and on other newly-electrified ones...
which in July 1939 went from Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
to Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
at 165 km/h (102.5 mph), with a top speed of 203 km/h (126.1 mph). With this service, the railway was able to compete with the upcoming airplanes. The Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
stopped these services.
After the Second World War, Italy started to repair the damaged railways, and built nearly 20000 km (12,427.5 mi) of new tracks.
Nowadays the rail tracks
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
and infrastructure are managed by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
Rete Ferroviaria Italiana is an Italian company fully owned by Ferrovie dello Stato . RFI is the owner of Italy's railway network, it sets train paths, provides signalling, provides maintenance and other services for the railway network...
(RFI), while the train and the passenger section is managed mostly by Trenitalia
Trenitalia
Trenitalia is the primary train operator in Italy. Trenitalia is owned by Ferrovie dello Stato, itself owned by the Italian Government. It was created in 2000 following the EU directive on the deregulation of rail transport.-Passenger transport:...
. Both are Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato is a government-owned holding which manage infrastructure and service on the Italian rail network. The subsidiary Trenitalia is the main rail operator in Italy.-Organization:Ferrovie dello Stato subsidiaries are:...
(FS) subsidiaries, once the only train operator in Italy.
High speed rail
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
. E444
FS Class E444
The FS E444 is a class of Italian railways electric locomotives. They were introduced in the course of the 1960 until 1975. Starting from 1995, all E444s were upgraded as E444R.The locomotives are nicknamed Tartaruga .-E444 standard:...
locomotives were the first standard locomotives capable of top speed of 200 km/h (124.3 mph), while an ALe 601 electrical multiple unit (EMU) reached a speed of 240 km/h (149.1 mph) during a test. Other EMUs, such as the ETR 220, ETR 250 and ETR 300
ETR 300
ETR 300, also known as Settebello, is a series of Italian fast EMU trains formerly operated by Ferrovie dello Stato. Thanks to its aerodynamically low-drag profile, it boasted a maximum speed of 200 km/h, with a power output of 2600 kW.-External links:**...
, were also updated for speeds up to 200 km/h (124.3 mph). The braking systems of cars were updated to match the increased travelling speeds.
On 25 June 1970, work was started on the Rome–Florence Direttissima, the first high-speed line in Italy. It included the 5.375 km (3.3 mi) long bridge on the Paglia
Paglia
Paglia may refer to:* Camille Paglia , American social critic, author and teacher* Francesco Paglia , Italian painter* Vincenzo Paglia , Roman Catholic bishop* Paglia...
river, then the longest in Europe. Works were completed in the early 1990s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
.
In 1975, a program for a widespread updating of the rolling stock was launched. However, as it was decided to put more emphasis on local traffic, this caused a shifting of resources from the ongoing high speed projects, with their subsequent slowing or, in some cases, total abandonment. Therefore, 160 E656
FS Class E656
The Class E656 is an Italian articulated rheostatic-type electric locomotive built from 1973 to 1989. An evolution of the E646/5, they are all-purpose locomotives, and have been used on every kind of train, ranging from freight to intercity passenger trasport.The E656 is nicknamed "Caimano" .-...
electric and 35 D345
FS Class D345
The FS Class D345 is a class of diesel-electric locomotive used in Italy, introduced in the 1970s and still in service.- History :After the positive experience with class D343, in 1970 Italian state railways, Ferrovie dello Stato, ordered further 70 diesel locomotives with some minor improvements...
locomotives for short-medium range traffic were acquired, together with 80 EMUs of the ALe 801 and ALe 940 classes, 120 ALn 660 DMU
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
s. Some 1,000 much-needed passenger and 7,000 freight cars were also ordered.
In the 1990s, work started on the Treno Alta Velocità
Treno Alta Velocità
Treno Alta Velocità SpA is special purpose entity owned by RFI for the planning and construction of a high-speed network in Italy.-Purpose:...
(TAV) project, which involves building a new high speed network on the routes Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
– (Bologna–Florence–Rome–Naples) – Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
, Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
– (Milan–Verona–Venice) – Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
and Milan–Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
. Some lines of the routes have already been opened while international links with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
are underway.
Most of the Rome–Naples line opened in December 2005, the Turin–Milan line partially opened in February 2006 and the Milan–Bologna line
Milan–Bologna high-speed railway line
The Milan–Bologna high-speed railway is a railway line that links the cities of Milan and Bologna, part of the Italian high-speed rail network. It runs parallel to the historical north-south railway between Milan and Bologna, which itself follows the ancient Roman Road, the Via Aemilia. The new...
opened in December 2008. The remaining sections of the Rome–Naples and the Turin–Milan lines and the Bologna–Florence line were completed in December 2009. All these lines are designed for speeds up to 300 km/h (186.4 mph).
Other proposed high speed lines are the Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
-Reggio Calabria
Reggio Calabria
Reggio di Calabria , commonly known as Reggio Calabria or Reggio, is the biggest city and the most populated comune of Calabria, southern Italy, and is the capital of the Province of Reggio Calabria and seat of the Council of Calabrian government.Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian...
, then connected to Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
using the future Strait of Messina Bridge
Strait of Messina Bridge
The Strait of Messina Bridge is a long-planned suspension bridge across the Strait of Messina, a narrow section of water between the eastern tip of Sicily and the southern tip of mainland Italy. In 2006, under Prime Minister Romano Prodi the project was cancelled...
, and the Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
-Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
.
Rail links to adjacent countries
All links have the same gauge. AustriaRail transport in Austria
Rail transport in Austria is mainly owned by the national rail company ÖBB. The railway network consists of 6,123 km, its gauge is 1,435 mm and 3,523 km are electrified....
— voltage change 3 kV DC/15 kV AC France
Rail transport in France
Rail transport in France is mostly operated by SNCF, the French national railway company. France has the second largest European railway network, with a total of 29,901 kilometers of railway...
— voltage change 3 kV DC/25 kV AC or 1,5 kV DC Slovenia — same voltage Switzerland
Rail transport in Switzerland
The railways of Switzerland include and narrow gauge .*Network size: 5,063 km*standard gauge: , of which is electrified.*narrow gauge: , of which is electrified...
— voltage change 3 kV DC/15 kV AC (plus two narrow gauge lines, same voltage) Vatican — not electrified San Marino — closed, narrow gauge
See also
- Ferrovie dello StatoFerrovie dello StatoFerrovie dello Stato is a government-owned holding which manage infrastructure and service on the Italian rail network. The subsidiary Trenitalia is the main rail operator in Italy.-Organization:Ferrovie dello Stato subsidiaries are:...
- Railway stations in ItalyRailway stations in ItalyRailway stations in Italy are maintained and operated by the RFI division of Ferrovie dello Stato Group. A minor part of them is operated by private and regional companies, conceded by the state.-Classification:...
- Transportation in Italy
- TrenitaliaTrenitaliaTrenitalia is the primary train operator in Italy. Trenitalia is owned by Ferrovie dello Stato, itself owned by the Italian Government. It was created in 2000 following the EU directive on the deregulation of rail transport.-Passenger transport:...
- Treno Alta VelocitàTreno Alta VelocitàTreno Alta Velocità SpA is special purpose entity owned by RFI for the planning and construction of a high-speed network in Italy.-Purpose:...
- Milan–Bologna high-speed railway lineMilan–Bologna high-speed railway lineThe Milan–Bologna high-speed railway is a railway line that links the cities of Milan and Bologna, part of the Italian high-speed rail network. It runs parallel to the historical north-south railway between Milan and Bologna, which itself follows the ancient Roman Road, the Via Aemilia. The new...
External links
- RFI (Infrastructure manager) Official website (Italian only)*Lyon Turin Ferroviaire
- Railway Technology.com article on Italian High Speed Rail, including NTV, Accessed 5 Feb 2008
- Italian HS System